The Albanese Government has committed $6 million to the Channel 7 Telethon Trust to help improve the health and wellbeing of Australian babies and children.
Telethon is an annual televised fundraising appeal in Western Australia and is broadcast live for 26 hours.
Over the past five decades Telethon has raised more than $600 million for sick and disadvantaged children in Western Australia.
The Government’s contributions to the trust over the past two years have supported 29 research projects which included research into gut health, cancer treatment, improving child and adolescent mental health, as well as seven grants to purchase medical equipment.
One of the fantastic research projects is ORIGINS, which tracks the health of 10,000 children beginning with their mother’s pregnancy.
The project’s researchers are investigating how we can give our children a better start in life and reduce the amount of chronic disease seen later in life.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
“Our children are our future, and we have a responsibility to ensure they have the best start in life.
“We are proud to once again support the Channel 7 Telethon Trust and its efforts to help Australian children to thrive.
“This funding is an investment in Australia’s world leading research sector, and will help Australian researchers to develop new techniques and treatments to improve the health and wellbeing of Australian children.
“With chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes continuing to rise, it is more important than ever that we support research into how parental health impacts a child’s life.”